In Person: Origins/O’Connor Affluence & Addiction
Information
Date & Time
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Educational Goal
Participants will gain competency in working with affluent families experiencing substance use disorder.
Description
Statistics demonstrate that children raised in wealthy families and affluent communities are more likely to develop depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. They experience vast pressures to overachieve, meet societal expectations and have resources to access substances. While money can be a tool to access high-quality treatment, it can also protect natural consequences and allow behavioral health issues to worsen.
Affluence and Addiction is an educational film that chronicles the journey of the O’Connor family, who navigated the behavioral healthcare system on behalf of their youngest son, Christopher O’Connor. Chris started his journey with substances at the age of 12, and despite having close to five years of sobriety, Chris died of an accidental overdose in July of 2018.
Through conversations with Chris’s family, friends, and experts serving ultra-high-net-worth clients, Affluence and Addiction offers insight into what makes wealthy families more vulnerable to addiction, what can be done to prevent stories like Chris’s, and valuable resources to aid families affected by substance use.
Target Audience
- Counselor
- Marriage & Family Therapist
- Psychologist
- Social Worker
- Substance Use Disorder Professionals
Presenters
Arden O’Connor founded the O’Connor Professional Group to address the needs of families and individuals struggling with an array of behavioral health issues, including addiction, mental health disorders, eating disorders, learning, and other developmental challenges. With several relatives in recovery, Arden is passionate about helping families and individuals navigate the highly fragmented treatment system in a way that creates positive outcomes and allows families to heal. Arden is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Business School. She remains heavily involved in community activities as a board member of Winsor School Corporation, Collaboration for Family Flourishing, and the Massachusetts Association of Mental Health. Previously, she served as a board member for the Justice Resource Institute (former chair), C4 Recovery Solutions, Attorneys for Family Held Enterprises, Harvard Club of Boston, Victory Programs, and Harvard Business School Alumni Association of Boston.